Finger cuff



A. D. CUsHlNG Jan. .7, 1936.

FINGER CUFF Filed May 2, 1954 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FENGER CUFF Abraham D, Cushing, Woodsville, N. H.

Application May 2, 1934, Serial No. 723,564

1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices for holding prisoners and it relates particularly to a linger cuil; the invention having for its object the provision o novel means whereby a nger of a captive may be clamped to securely hold it without creating pain unless effort is made to escape.

An object of this invention is to produce the novel means including a body and a member slidable with relation thereto whereby the space between the body and the member may be adjusted to embrace lingers of different sizes, means being provided for holding the movable element in different positions of adjustment and in a marmer toI insure against accidental release of the movable member, the invention further including means such as a key-operated lock or a lock otherwise operated for holding the last mentioned means against movement from its locking position.

A further object of this invention is to produce a body and a movable member slidably mounted therein, novel means being provided for holding the parts in assembled relation and in operative positions so that pressure on the movable member will speedily cause its adjustment for the purpose stated.

-A'still further object of this invention is to provide the body of the said device with an aperture for a finger of the operator in such relation to the end of the said member remote from the slidable member as to permit the use of the device as a defensive weapon which may be regarded as a metal knuckle, it being understood that the said end of the body remote from the slidable member has diverging arms which may serve the purpose of handles or hand grasps for the user and as extensions of the defensive portion of the body when it is to be used as a metal knuckle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts'to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 illustrates a view in elevation of a linger cuff embodying the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view thereof; and

Figure 3 illustrates a detail view of a coacting member.

In the drawing, a body member I and a slidable shackle Ia may be operated to reduce or increase the space between the end ci the said member and the shackle. The member I is preferably made of metal with two longitudinally disposed bcres Ib and I for a purpose to be presently explained. The shackle has its two end or leg portions slidable in the bores and one leg of the said shackle has serrations 2 on its inner surface. The other leg of the shackle has a slot 3 through which a pin 3 extends, the said pin being anchored in the body and operative to limit the outward movement or" the shackle under the lnuence of the spring I seated in the bore Ic and engaging the end wall or said bore and the end of the shackle leg which moves in the bore. The body is also provided with a channel in which a ratchet or detent 6 is slidable, the said ratchet having a beveled end and the extremity thereof operates in conjunction with the ratchet teeth 2 on one leg of the shackle. The ratchet is provided with a button or finger engaging member 1i operable in a slot li of the body member so that the ratchet may be moved against the action of the spring 8 located in the channel and engaging the end of the channel and the said ratchet. The body is also provided with an aperture 6 and a fluted end I including the arms IIJ and I4. When the user of the finger cuif desires to use it asa defensive weapon, the shackled end thereof will be placed in the palm of the hand and one iinger projected through the aperture t while the other fingers will engage the concaved surfaces of the arms I0 and I4 so that in this use of the device, the outer surfaces of the parts l, Ill, and I4 may be said to constitute metal knuckles.

As a means for preventing accidental movement of the ratchet or the movement thereof by unauthorized persons, the said ratchet has a notch I2 in its side and a locking bolt 9 is located in a channel approximately at right angles to the ratchet and is slidable therein toward and away from the said ratchet under the iniluence of a key to be applied to the keyhole 5 in a barrel located in a hole 5 in the said member. The locking bolt 9, under the influence of the key, may be moved into engagement with the ratchet so that its end lies in the notch IZ edge of said bolt and thewall of the slot in which the locking bolt moves.

I claim:

In a nger cui, a body having a handle comprising oppositely projecting arms and an interposed uted portion, the said body having bores, a transversely disposed channel intersecting one of the bores, a shackle having two end portions movable in the bores, ratchet teeth on the siii face of one of said end portions facing the said channel, a ratchet in the channel engageable with the ratchet teeth, means for urging the ratchet into engagement with the teeth, and means for retaining the ratchet against movement when in engagement with the teeth.

ABRAHAM D. CUSHING. 

